• $124 million for city parks to improve bike paths, fund “spraygrounds” at neighborhood pools,
and replace old playground equipment.

• $52.5 million for public safety to buy police cars and fire vehicles, put crime cameras in
neighborhoods, rehab or replace aging fire stations, and improve the city’s crime lab.

The city is seeking voter approval because it would ensure a lower interest rate — around 2.5
percent — and maintain confidence with investors when it comes time to issue the bonds.

Voter approval also would mean that the city could raise property taxes if it doesn’t have
enough income-tax revenue or reserves to cover the debt. Although that’s possible, the city hasn’t
gone to the ballot to raise property taxes in more than 50 years.

“We want to make everyone aware that this bond package does not raise taxes,” Councilwoman
Priscilla Tyson said.

The money would not cover any salary or worker-related costs, which are nearly all paid through
the city’s annual general-fund budget.

The voter-approved bonds would cover only a small fraction of the nearly $2.5 billion in
infrastructure improvements that the city plans through 2018. An overwhelming majority of those
costs are to replace waterlines and aging equipment at water-treatment plants, and to properly
manage storm-water runoff.

“Projects have been put off or moved around because of scheduling issues, so we still have bonds
that voters approved in 2008,” said Paul Rakosky, the city’s finance director. “That’s part of the
overall $2.5 billion as well, and it all represents the projects we hope to get done by 2018.”

The city’s stellar credit ratings from all three major rating agencies make it attractive to
many investors, so officials can secure loans through other state and federal agencies for many
water and sewer projects.

Last night, the council also approved stricter regulations for taxicab and pedicab drivers.

The city mandates that by June, all 500 taxicabs licensed by the city must have credit-card
machines in the back of the cab. The city’s Department of Public Safety also will oversee any
disciplining of cabdrivers who break the law or don’t comply with city codes.

Fans of Ohio State football might have noticed some of the 25 or 30 pedicab drivers who bicycle
people between Ohio Stadium and its parking lots during games, or pedicabs in the Short North. The
new ordinance will put 40 pedicab licenses up for grabs at a cost of $50 a year.

Pedicab drivers must display signs advising that some passengers, mostly children, must wear
helmets. The pedicabs also must have turn signals, and drivers must undergo background checks.